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Books and writing are the core of my life. I edit books, write books, and teach writing. I love this work, and will be happy to provide any editorial or writing service you need.
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What the Teacher Learned in Class

May 14, 2021 By Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Building Characters

I was reminded in class the other day of a writing exercise that I call Building Characters. The idea came to me from a chapter in a student’s memoir, about a bus trip her family took in Great Britain and Western Europe in the early 1960s. The group was an intriguing collection of characters—starting with the tour guide, the wonderfully named Mr. Pinchback—and it occurred to me that students could … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Characters, What the Teacher Learned in Class, Writing Tips Tagged With: character, writing exercise, writing prompt, writing tips

June 4, 2015 By Elizabeth Leave a Comment

From Short Story to Screenplay

from short story to screenplay

I got an email from one of my students last week. A short story she brought to class earlier this year is now a screenplay. Not only that, it is going to become a film. There’s a director, a cast, props, probably even coffee and doughnuts. A little backstory, though, to explain how Pam went from short story to screenplay. Last year Pam brought to class a short story about a suicidal man … [Read more...]

Filed Under: What the Teacher Learned in Class

May 21, 2015 By Elizabeth Leave a Comment

My Writing Classes

classroom for writing class

A writer I know, Randy Susan Meyers, wrote an interesting blog on her website a few weeks ago called “Writer’s Groups: Don’t Drink and Read.” Randy touches on a variety of issues that resonated with me as a writing teacher, especially since I have encountered a few of the same problems in my classes. So I thought I would make some comments about my writing classes. (I should explain first that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: What the Teacher Learned in Class

December 4, 2013 By Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Constructing a Novel–The Outline

Several months ago I heard John Irving speak at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A few months later I heard Margaret Atwood at the same venue as she read from her latest book and was interviewed. Both authors were engaging and dropped various jewels of insight that readers and writers could grab. Yet I was struck by one difference between them. Many fans of Irving have heard that he … [Read more...]

Filed Under: What the Teacher Learned in Class

November 27, 2012 By Elizabeth Leave a Comment

More Than Simple Details

I love long, lyrical descriptions in books and stories. Not necessarily Henry James, but I enjoy exact and detailed descriptions of people and places. Some readers do not. They are happy with the bare bones so they can rush on with the story. Writers vary too, some preferring to tell a reader precisely what a room, or street, or main character looks like; while other writers sketch in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: What the Teacher Learned in Class, Writing Tips

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